Battery system

ABSTRACT

A battery system includes a battery module having a plurality of assembled batteries. Battery monitoring circuits are provided to correspond to each of the assembled batteries of the battery module. A control circuit controls operation of the battery monitoring circuits. A first signal transmission path transmits signals that are input and output between the battery monitoring circuits and the control circuit. A first isolation element is connected to the control circuit, and a second isolation element is connected to the battery monitoring circuit. The first signal transmission path is isolated from the control circuit by the second isolation element. The electrical potential of the first signal transmission path is a floating potential in relation to the electrical potentials of the control circuit and battery monitoring circuits.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/784,141 filed Oct. 13, 2015, which is a 371 national stageapplication of PCT/JP2013/061187, filed Apr. 15, 2013 which isincorporated by reference as if fully set forth.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a battery system.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a battery system has been known that is provided withmonitoring circuits for each assembled battery block in which aplurality of battery cells are connected together in series and monitorsthe status of the assembled battery by outputting a predeterminedinstruction signal to each monitoring circuit from a microprocessor. Insuch a battery system, to isolate the microprocessor from the monitoringcircuit, photo couplers as isolation elements are provided (see PTL 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP 2007-278913 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

An isolation method such as disclosed in PTL 1, the photo coupler isconnected to the assembled battery having a high voltage. Therefore, forexample, if the microprocessor and the monitoring circuit are away fromeach other, wiring with high voltage is required to be routed across along distance, which may cause a safety issue. Accordingly, in view ofthese problems, the main object of the present invention is to provide asafe and highly reliable battery system.

Solution to Problem

A battery system according to the present invention includes: a batterymodule in which a plurality of assembled batteries each having aplurality of battery cells is connected together; battery monitoringcircuits that are provided so as to correspond to each of the assembledbatteries of the battery module and monitor a status of each of thebattery cells of the assembled batteries; a control circuit forcontrolling operation of the battery monitoring circuits; a first signaltransmission path for transmitting signals that are input and outputbetween the battery monitoring circuits and the control circuit; a firstisolation element connected to the control circuit; and a secondisolation element connected to the battery monitoring circuit. In thebattery system, the first signal transmission path is isolated from thecontrol circuit by the first isolation element and is isolated from thebattery monitoring circuit by the second isolation element, and anelectrical potential of the first signal transmission path is a floatingpotential in relation to an electrical potential of the control circuitand electrical potentials of the battery monitoring circuits.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

According to the present invention, a safe and highly reliable batterysystem can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to afirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to athird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to afourth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. The battery system isprovided with a battery module 1, a battery monitoring board 2, abattery monitoring board 3, and an upper level control board 5. Thebattery monitoring boards 2, 3 respectively have battery monitoringcircuits 21, 31 and capacitors for communication 23, 33. The upper levelcontrol board 5 has an isolation element 50, an isolation element 60, anisolated power supply 8, a microprocessor 9, and a power supply unit 10.

The battery monitoring board 2 and the upper level control board 5 areconnected to each other via a transmission signal transmission path 41.The transmission signal transmission path 41 is a signal transmissionpath for transmitting signals that are input and output between themicroprocessor 9 in the upper level control board 5 and the batterymonitoring circuit 21 in the battery monitoring board 2. The batterymonitoring board 3 and the upper level control board 5 are connected toeach other via a reception signal transmission path 42. The receptionsignal transmission path 42 is a signal transmission path fortransmitting signals that are input and output between the batterymonitoring circuit 31 in the battery monitoring board 3 and themicroprocessor 9 in the upper level control board 5. Incidentally,although the transmission signal transmission path 41 and the receptionsignal transmission path 42 each are illustrated as a two-wiredifferential signal transmission path in FIG. 1, each of them can beconfigured as a single-wire signal transmission path.

The battery module 1 is configured such that assembled batteries 11, 12each having a plurality of battery cells 10 are connected together inseries. The assembled battery 11 is connected to the battery monitoringboard 2, and the assembled battery 12 is connected to the batterymonitoring board 3.

The battery monitoring board 2 has the battery monitoring circuit 21provided so as to correspond to the assembled battery 11. The batterymonitoring circuit 21 measures the voltage of each of the battery cells10 of the assembled battery 11 and the like depending on a command fromthe microprocessor 9 provided to the upper level control board 5. On thebasis of the measurement result, the battery monitoring circuit 21monitors the status of each of the battery cells 10 of the assembledbattery 11. An internal power supply 22 is incorporated in the batterymonitoring circuit 21. The internal power supply 22 generates operationpower of the battery monitoring circuit 21 by using the power suppliedfrom each of the battery cells 10 of the assembled battery 11.

The battery monitoring board 3 has the battery monitoring circuit 31provided so as to correspond to the assembled battery 12. The batterymonitoring circuit 31 measures the voltage of each of the battery cells10 of the assembled battery 12 and the like depending on a command fromthe microprocessor 9 provided to the upper level control board 5. On thebasis of the measurement result, the battery monitoring circuit 31monitors the status of each of the battery cells 10 of the assembledbattery 12. An internal power supply 32 is incorporated in the batterymonitoring circuit 31. The internal power supply 32 generates operationpower of the battery monitoring circuit 31 by using the power suppliedfrom each of the battery cells 10 of the assembled battery 12.

The battery monitoring board 2 and the battery monitoring board 3 areconnected to each other via a relay signal transmission path 43. Therelay signal transmission path 43 is a transmission path fortransmitting relay signals that are input and output between the batterymonitoring circuit 21 and the battery monitoring circuit 31. The relaysignal transmission path 43 is connected to the battery monitoringcircuit 21 via the capacitor for communication 23 in the batterymonitoring board 2, and is connected to the battery monitoring circuit31 via the capacitor for communication 33 in the battery monitoringboard 3. That is, the relay signal transmission path 43 is isolated fromthe battery monitoring circuits 21, 31 by the capacitors forcommunication 23, 33, respectively. Thus, the electrical potential ofthe relay signal transmission path 43 is a floating potential inrelation to each electrical potential of the battery monitoring circuits21, 31. Furthermore, the relay signal transmission path 43 has afloating potential in relation to the electrical potential of themicroprocessor 9 in the upper level control board 5. The relay signalsused for monitoring the status of each of the assembled batteries 11, 12are transmitted and received between the battery monitoring circuit 21and the battery monitoring circuit 31 via the relay signal transmissionpath 43. Incidentally, although each of the relay signal transmissionpaths 43 is illustrated as a two-wire differential signal transmissionpath in FIG. 1, it can be configured as a single-wire signaltransmission path.

In the upper level control board 5, the microprocessor 9 is a circuitfor controlling operation of the battery monitoring circuits 21, 31 andtransmits a predetermined command signal to the battery monitoringcircuits 21, 31 via the isolation element 50 and the transmission signaltransmission path 41. By receiving the command signal, the batterymonitoring circuits 21, 31 each execute operation depending on thecommand content from the microprocessor 9. Incidentally, the commandsignal to the battery monitoring circuit 31 from the microprocessor 9 isonce received in the battery monitoring circuit 21, and then istransmitted to the battery monitoring circuit 31 as a relay signal viathe relay signal transmission path 43.

The microprocessor 9 receives a measurement signal transmitted via thereception signal transmission path 42 and the isolation element 60 fromthe battery monitoring circuits 21, 31. The measurement signal includesa signal indicating the measurement result such as the voltage of eachof the battery cells 10 of the assembled batteries 21, 31 by the batterymonitoring circuits 21, 31. Incidentally, the measurement signal to themicroprocessor 9 from the battery monitoring circuit 21 is oncetransmitted to the battery monitoring circuit 31 as a relay signal viathe relay signal transmission path 43, and then is transmitted to themicroprocessor 9 from the battery monitoring circuit 31.

The lead-acid battery 11 is connected to the power supply unit 10. Thepower supply unit 10 outputs a primary-side power Vcc by using the powersupplied from the lead-acid battery 11. The primary-side power Vcc isinput in the microprocessor 9 and is used as operation power of themicroprocessor 9. The primary-side power Vcc is also input to theisolation elements 50, 60, and the isolated power supply 8.

The isolated power supply 8 generates a secondary-side power Vs isolatedfrom the microprocessor 9 by using the primary-side power Vcc suppliedfrom the power supply unit 10. The secondary-side power Vs is suppliedto the output side of the isolation element 50 (transmission signaltransmission path 41 side) and the input side of the isolation element60 (reception signal transmission path 42 side) from the isolated powersupply 8. Incidentally, secondary-side power Vs is also isolated fromthe battery monitoring circuits 21, 31.

The isolation element 50 is an element for isolating the microprocessor9 from the transmission signal transmission path 41, and is configuredusing a photo coupler, for example.

Internal power supplies 51, 52 are incorporated in the isolation element50. The internal power supply 51 generates operation power of the inputside of the isolation element 50, that is the microprocessor 9 side, byusing the primary-side power Vcc supplied from the power supply unit 10.On the other hand, the internal power supply 52 generates operationpower of the output side of the isolation element 50, that is thetransmission signal transmission path 41 side, by using thesecondary-side power Vs supplied from the isolated power supply 8.

The transmission signal transmission path 41 is connected to themicroprocessor 9 via the isolation element 50 in the upper level controlboard 5. The transmission signal transmission path 41 is connected tothe battery monitoring circuit 21 via the capacitor for communication 23in the battery monitoring board 2. That is, the transmission signaltransmission path 41 is isolated from the microprocessor 9 by theisolation element 50, and is isolated from the battery monitoringcircuit 21 by the capacitor for communication 23. Thus, the electricalpotential of the transmission signal transmission path 41 is a floatingpotential in relation to the electrical potential of the microprocessor9 and the electrical potential of the battery monitoring circuit 21.

The isolation element 60 is an element for isolating the microprocessor9 from the reception signal transmission path 42, and is configuredusing a photo coupler, for example. Internal power supplies 61, 62 areincorporated in the isolation element 60. The internal power supply 61generates operation power of the output side of the isolation element60, that is the microprocessor 9 side, by using the primary-side powerVcc supplied from the power supply unit 10. On the other hand, theinternal power supply 62 generates operation power of the input side ofthe isolation element 60, that is the reception signal transmission path42 side, by using the secondary-side power Vs supplied from the isolatedpower supply 8.

The reception signal transmission path 42 is connected to themicroprocessor 9 via the isolation element 60 in the upper level controlboard 5. The reception signal transmission path 42 is connected to thebattery monitoring circuit 31 via the capacitor for communication 33 inthe battery monitoring board 3. That is, the reception signaltransmission path 42 is isolated from the microprocessor 9 by theisolation element 60, and is isolated from the battery monitoringcircuit 31 by the capacitor for communication 33. Thus, the electricalpotential of the reception signal transmission path 41 is a floatingpotential in relation to the electrical potential of the microprocessor9 and the electrical potential of the battery monitoring circuit 31.

As described above, the battery system according to the first embodimentof the present invention is configured such that the transmission signaltransmission path 41, the reception signal transmission path 42, and therelay signal transmission path 43 are each electrically separated fromthe battery monitoring circuits 21, 31 and the microprocessor 9. Thus,the potential of each transmission path is a floating potential inrelation to each electrical potential of the battery monitoring circuits21, 31 that are high voltage drive circuits and the electrical potentialof the microprocessor 9 that is low voltage drive circuit. Therefore,these transmission paths are prevented from being high voltage, and asafe battery system can be achieved.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention describedabove, the following effects are achieved.

(1) The transmission signal transmission path 41 and the receptionsignal transmission path 42 are each isolated from the microprocessor 9by the isolation elements 50, 60, and are isolated from the batterymonitoring circuits 21, 31 by the capacitors for communication 23, 33,respectively. Thus, each electrical potential of the transmission signaltransmission path 41 and the reception signal transmission path 42 is afloating potential in relation to the electrical potential of themicroprocessor 9 and the electrical potentials of the battery monitoringcircuits 21, 31. Since the battery system is configured as such, thesafe and highly reliable battery system can be provided.

(2) The relay signal transmission path 43 is isolated from the batterymonitoring circuits 21, 31 by the capacitors for communication 23, 33,respectively. Thus, the electrical potential of the relay signaltransmission path 43 is a floating potential in relation to theelectrical potential of the microprocessor 9 and the electricalpotentials of the battery monitoring circuits 21, 31. Since the batterysystem is configured as such, the safer and more highly reliable batterysystem can be provided.

(3) In the isolation element 50, the input side is connected to themicroprocessor 9 and the output side is connected to the transmissionsignal transmission path 41. In the isolation element 60, the input sideis connected to the reception signal transmission path 42 and the outputside is connected to the microprocessor 9. The isolated power supply 8supplies the secondary-side power Vs isolated from the microprocessor 9and the battery monitoring circuits 21, 31 to the output side of theisolation element 50 and the input side of the isolation element 60.Since the battery system is configured as such, the output side of theisolation element 50 and the input side of the isolation element 60 caneach be operated in a status of being isolated from the microprocessor 9and the battery monitoring circuits 21, 31. Therefore, when the elementssuch as the photo couplers that require the operation power are used asthe isolation elements 50, 60, each electrical potential of thetransmission signal transmission path 41 and the reception signaltransmission path 42 can be a floating potential in relation to themicroprocessor 9 and the battery monitoring circuits 21, 31. Since it isnot required to supply the secondary-side power Vs to the isolationelements 50, 60 from the high voltage drive circuit side, consumptioncurrent of each of the battery cells 10 of the battery module 1 can besuppressed and variations in consumption current among the battery cells10 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the wiring between the batterymonitoring boards 2, 3 and the upper level control board 5 can beelectrically separated from the high voltage drive circuit, furtherimprovement of safety can be achieved.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 2 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention. This battery system,comparing to the battery system described in the first embodiment, isdifferent in that the reception signal transmission path 42 is notprovided between the battery monitoring board 3 and the upper levelcontrol board 5.

In the battery system of this embodiment, the transmission signaltransmission path 41 is also connected to the isolation element 60 inaddition to the isolation element 50, in the upper level control board5. Thus, a measurement signal transmitted from the battery monitoringcircuits 21, 31 can be received in the microprocessor 9 via thetransmission signal transmission path 41 and the isolation element 60.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention describedabove, the same effects as those described in the first embodiment canbe achieved.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to thethird embodiment of the present invention. This battery system,comparing to the battery system described in the first embodiment, isdifferent in that the isolated power supply 8 is incorporated in theisolation element 60.

According to the third embodiment of the present invention describedabove, by incorporating the isolated power supply 8 in the isolationelement 60, the number of components of the upper level control board 5can be reduced and the wiring structure can be simplified. Thus, costreduction can be achieved. Incidentally, the isolated power supply 8 canbe incorporated in the isolation element 50, instead of the isolationelement 60. The isolated power supply 8 can be incorporated in both ofthe isolation element 50 and the isolation element 60.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration of a battery system according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention. This battery system,comparing to the battery system described in the first embodiment, isdifferent in that a switch 12 is provided between the power supply unit10 and the isolated power supply 8.

The switch 12 switches an operation status of the isolated power supply8 by turning on or turning off the supply of the primary-side power Vccto the isolated power supply 8 from the power supply unit 10 dependingon controlling of the microprocessor 9. For example, at the timing toperform communication between the microprocessor 9 and the batterymonitoring circuits 21, 31, the switch 12 is made to be the conductivestatus to operate the isolated power supply 8, and the secondary-sidepower Vs is supplied to the isolation elements 50, 60 from the isolatedpower supply 8. At the other cases, the switch 12 is switched to thecut-off status to stop the operation of the isolated power supply 8. Inthis way, the isolated power supply 8 can be operated only whenrequired.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention describedabove, the operation status of the isolated power supply 8 can beswitched by the switch 12 depending on the controlling of themicroprocessor 9. Thus, reduction of the power consumption can beachieved by operating the isolated power supply 8 only when required.

Incidentally, in each of the first to fourth embodiments describedabove, although examples have been described that the isolation elements50, 60 are operated by receiving the secondary-side power Vs suppliedfrom the isolated power supply 8, an element operable without receivingsupply of power can be used as the isolation elements 50, 60. Forexample, passive elements such as capacitors and pulse transformers canbe used as the isolation elements 50, 60. In this case, the isolatedpower supply 8 is not required in the upper level control board 5. Thecapacitor for communication 23 in the battery monitoring board 2 and thecapacitor for communication 33 in the battery monitoring board 3 can bereplaced to the other isolation element such as pulse transformers andphoto couplers, for example.

Each of above-described embodiments and modifications is only anexample, and unless the features of the invention are impaired, thepresent invention is not limited to these contents.

1. A battery system, comprising: a battery module in which a pluralityof assembled batteries each having a plurality of battery cells areconnected; a plurality of battery monitoring circuits that are eachprovided so as to correspond to each of the assembled batteries of thebattery module and each monitor a status of each of the battery cells ofeach of the assembled batteries; and a plurality of boards, wherein: theplurality of battery monitoring circuits are each provided on each ofthe plurality of boards which are different from each other; theplurality of boards each include a capacitor; the plurality of batterymonitoring circuits are connected via the capacitor and a relay signaltransmission path; and an electrical potential of the relay signaltransmission path is a floating potential in relation to electricalpotentials of the battery monitoring circuits.
 2. The battery systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit forcontrolling each of operations of the plurality of battery monitoringcircuits; a transmission/reception signal transmission path fortransmitting signals that are input and output between the plurality ofbattery monitoring circuits and the control circuit; and an isolationelement connected to the control circuit, wherein: thetransmission/reception signal transmission path is isolated from thecontrol circuit by the isolation element and is isolated from thebattery monitoring circuit by the capacitor; and an electrical potentialof the transmission/reception signal transmission path is a floatingpotential in relation to the electrical potential of the control circuitand the electrical potentials of the battery monitoring circuits.
 3. Thebattery system according to claim 2, further comprising: an isolatedpower supply for supplying power isolated from the control circuit andthe battery monitoring circuits to the isolation element, wherein: theisolation element includes an isolation element for transmission inwhich an input side is connected to the control circuit and an outputside is connected to the transmission/reception signal transmissionpath, and an isolation element for reception in which an input side isconnected to the transmission/reception signal transmission path and anoutput side is connected to the control circuit; and the isolated powersupply supplies the power to the output side of the isolation elementfor transmission and the input side of the isolation element forreception.
 4. The battery system according to claim 3, wherein theisolated power supply is incorporated in the isolation element.
 5. Thebattery system according to claim 3, further comprising a switch circuitfor switching an operation status of the isolated power supply dependingon controlling of the control circuit.
 6. A battery system, comprising:a battery module in which a plurality of assembled batteries each havinga plurality of battery cells are connected; battery monitoring circuitsthat are each provided so as to correspond to each of the assembledbatteries of the battery module and each monitor a status of each of thebattery cells of each of the assembled batteries; a control circuit forcontrolling operations of the battery monitoring circuits; a firstsignal transmission path for transmitting signals that are input andoutput between the battery monitoring circuits and the control circuit;a first isolation element connected to the control circuit; a secondisolation element connected to one of the battery monitoring circuits;an isolated power supply for supplying power isolated from the controlcircuit and the battery monitoring circuits to the first isolationelement; a switch circuit for switching an operation status of theisolated power supply depending on controlling of the control circuit,wherein: the first signal transmission path is isolated from the controlcircuit by the first isolation element and is isolated from the batterymonitoring circuit by the second isolation element; an electricalpotential of the first signal transmission path is a floating potentialin relation to an electrical potential of the control circuit andelectrical potentials of the battery monitoring circuits; the firstisolation element includes an isolation element for transmission inwhich an input side is connected to the control circuit and an outputside is connected to the first signal transmission path, and anisolation element for reception in which an input side is connected tothe first signal transmission path and an output side is connected tothe control circuit; and the isolated power supply supplies the power tothe output side of the isolation element for transmission and the inputside of the isolation element for reception.